But I wanted to add some thoughts on each of my selections in this far-less-pressed-for-space forum:
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5. Baby Loves Hip-Hop â€¢Â Baby Loves Music Presents the Dino-5 (Baby Loves Music)
This was one of the two top-5 albums for which not only children’s music fans were enthusiastically waiting. A couple of hip-hop fans I know were intrigued about it thanks to the participation of members of progressive Hip-Hop institutions such as The Roots, Digable Planets, Jurassic 5 and De la Soul portraying various cute cartoon dinosaurs.

Going in, my point of reference was its older sibling, Baby Loves Jazz â€¢Â Go Baby Go!, which was strictly a collection of songs. Baby Loves Hip-Hop has the added bonus of a wrap around story narrated by poet Ursula Rocker as a mother telling her daughter a bedtime story. (It’s a little confusing when played on shuffle as part of a larger playlist but works well on its own, of course.) The tracks are full of joy, imagination and vibrancy while still remaining excellent enough to work into the more eclectic mix tapes of the world.

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4. Bill Harley â€¢Â Yes to Running! (Round River Records)
At a local Shawn Colvin concert, the supremely talented singer-songwriter once remarked that her audiences are divided between those who want to hear more singing and those who want to hear more of her storytelling. Bill Harley has found his balance, as heard on this two CD concert recording from Missoula, MT.

Harley makes great references to things we grown ups enjoy (like his spot on imitation of the jazz he hears on NPR stations on “Mom and the Radio”) while sharing an inspired silliness that the younger members of the University of Montana crowd clearly enjoys, judging from the mass laughter and giggling. And as a seasoned storyteller, he has an amazing ability to draw in listeners and hold their attention â€”Â even for stories which last for over 25 minutes!

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3. Frances England â€¢ Family Tree (self-released)
San Francisco’s own England won me over with her debut, 2006’s Fascinating Creatures. So the mark was already set high for its follow up. She continues match her pathos-laden voice with a sympathetic organic instrumentation and memorable songwriting.

In 2/4 time, the song “Fast Train to Grandma’s” sounds like a love song to a young crush (ignoring the title altogether, that is) until the singalong chorus. Young ones with expectant mamas can totally relate to the title track (about branches expanding to said metaphor), while “Animal Friends” boasts both an important ecological message and some noteworthy drum work.

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2. medeski, martin & wood â€¢Â let’s go everywhere (Little Monster Records)
Here’s the other long-anticipated release of 2008. (The label drama that’s been at the heart of the 21st Century music industry played a part in its delay.) Medeski, Martin & Wood‘s (MMW) explorative music is a natural fit for curious ears; consider this MMW light (but not lite) â€”Â shorter numbers and some spoken and sung lyrics by the likes of Tim Ingham and Oliver Wood (brother of MMW bassist Chris).

Songs about pirates and trains and planes are done with an all-ages fairy tail sensibility while still maintaining a slightly quirky downtown edge. The instrumental tracks (particularly “Old Paint” and “Far East Sweet”) are predictably excellent.

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1. Dan Zanes & Friends â€¢Â Â¡Nueva York! (Festival Five Records)
As mentioned in previous Baby Beats columns, Dan Zanes has been the one artist to self-identify his work more as family than children’s music. It’s a in lineage which extends back to Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, and has Zanes has displayed a similar cultural curiosity and sense of social justice.

He’s said that he’s exploring both Spanish and the musical tradition of Spanish-speaking communities to have a better understanding of and appreciation for some of his neighbors in New York City and also as way to give all listeners a more personal connection to the national immigration debate. It was a logical next step for for the always open-minded (and open-hearted) Zanes but was a nice surprise nonetheless.

His many guests, including Lila Downs and also the Villa-Lobos brothers, fit in seamlessly with Zanes and his band of “Friends.” And Zanes himself proves to be the perfect host â€”Â graceful, willing and ready â€”Â as he delves into south of the (U.S.) border musical traditions.